The Vintage Fabric That Started A Revolution!

I live in a house full of boys.  I have two sons and a husband - all sport-loving, masculine, dudes.  And then, there is the girly-girl, ME!  I preach about how a home should reflect you and your family.  My sons have their spaces - all stuffed with their favorite fodder from NCAA, NFL, MLB, NHL, ETC.  My husband: he likes things to be gender neutral - not too flowery or feminine in the main areas of the house.  Our home is definitely sprinkled with us - some family photos, some pieces from our childhood homes, artwork from our travels, and it is always ready for entertaining our loved ones, friends and neighborhood kids.  It is most certainly family friendly.  But, there is no lace, there are no delicate fabrics and there are no sweet nothings.

So began the revolution!  Take back some girl space!  I decided one day (probably after watching Oprah) that I needed a space for myself.  I needed a GIRL ROOM with no boys allowed! A place to talk on the phone, look at my decorating magazines, paint my nails, and watch Oprah or HGTV uninterrupted!  When my husband took a job that required him to move out of his home office and into the corporate office, we had a vacant room in our home.  I was going to create my own retreat and revolt against the man-ness of my home!  Where a "mommy club house" might sound absurd to you, it sounded like Heaven to me!

I had been sitting on a few yards of vintage fabric that 'spoke to me' one day in an antique store.  I picked it up on a whim thinking I would use it for a craft of some sort.   The colors in the fabric are silly - nothing you would ever call beautiful.  Pepto Bismol pink background, canary yellow, spring green, and cherry red.  Weird combo, I know.  Then, there is the subject matter of the print:  a man on a horse, a church, a wagon, a mill.  What?!  But, this was the crazy jumping off point I needed to begin transforming a manly home office into my feminine retreat.  It was my inspiration.  Here is how it began:

What a man-sized mess.  This is the before shot.  The dark red walls were the only thing to stay!

A covered bridge and a whole lot of crazy.  Inspiring? Yes!

I created the room mixing and matching unlikely patterns in like colors.  It created a quilt like feel for the whole room. 

Wicker, vintage quilts, a worn old trunk, a lacy lamp shade, Shabby Chic books - OOOH SO GIRLY!!

My shelves are lined with my stuff:  buttons, notions, paint brushes in mason jars and an old painted tray.

A weathered old bench I use as a side table.

A $10 flea market chair has a fantastic blue patina making it invaluable to me!

 I can't lay all my cards on the table just yet!  I'll show you more photos of this room as time goes on!  I have to leave you wanting more!  Thanks for viewing!